2018 Volkswagen Passat GT will show off a sportier look in Detroit

Volkswagen is keen to show that it can adapt to local conditions in North America&period; After all&comma; what sells in Mexico doesn't necessary work perfectly in
Canada&period; Well&comma; the limited-run &lpar;how limited&comma; we don't know&rpar;
Passat GT is aimed squarely at the U&period;S&period; of A&period; with about 20 updates&comma; mostly cosmetic&comma; that enhance the Passat's sportiness inside and out&period; And it looks a lot like
the concept we saw back in 2016&comma; too&period;

&NewLine;The enhancements certainly do their part&period; The Passat GT does indeed look sportier&period; That's due to a mix of R-Line parts &lpar;like the front bumper&rpar; and unique touches&comma; like the red accents that recall the
Golf GTI&period; There's also a honeycomb grille&comma; a black roof&comma; 19-inch "Tornado" wheels&comma; and a black rear decklid spoiler&period; The overall effect is nice&comma; and it looks a lot like a large sedan version of the excellent
GTI&period; Pure White&comma; Reflex Silver&comma; Platinum Grey&comma; and Deep Black are the exterior color options&period;

&NewLine;Unlike the GTI&comma; which gets extra power as well as performance suspension and an optional limited-slip differential&comma; the GT makes do with "a sport suspension&comma;" the details of which are not clear at the time of this writing&period; Whether the revised suspension merely improves the stance or has a real driving benefit is unknown&period; The VR6&comma; however&comma; is unchanged but still healthy&comma; making 280 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque&period; It's backed up by
VW's excellent six-speed DSG&comma; with the paddle shifters you'd expect&period;

&NewLine;Inside&comma; there's a 6&period;3-inch infotainment system that supports CarPlay and Android Auto&comma; Bluetooth&comma; and standard Sirius XM with a three-month trial&period; Beyond that&comma; the inside is set off with piano black trim and carbon fiber-look accents&comma; with GT badge sills&period; Two-tone leatherette will be the material on the seats&comma; but the wheel is wrapped in real leather&period;

&NewLine;The GT will hit
dealers in mid-2018&comma; starting at &dollar;29&comma;940&period;